Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Circus&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Circus’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with purple spots/stripes; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Circus’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Circus’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Circus’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Circus’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Leopard Prince’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘Chih Shang Stripes’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis‘Circus’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in 2007 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in November, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Circus’, which in combination distinguishthis Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white with purple spots/stripes;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.        In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Circus’, the        female parent ‘Leopard Prince’ has dark pink striped flowers and        the male parent ‘Chih Shang Stripes’ has dark red striped        flowers, whereas the flowers of ‘Circus’ are purple striped        flowers.        Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which        ‘Circus’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Circus’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Circus’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Circus’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of‘Circus’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Circus’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Circus’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Circus’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Circus’ is27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of‘Circus’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Circus’ are a minimum of5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with levelof 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of‘Circus’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Circus’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Leopard Prince’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Chih Shang Stripes’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6            mm wide and green in color (RHS 191B); freely branching. It            takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to            initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 60 cm Spread: about 50 cm.        -   Growth habit.—standard; dark-green leaves and a relatively            normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, the tip is blunt and            asymmetric.        -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—3 to 4 pairs of leaves.        -   Mature leaf length.—about 10 to 20 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—about 5 to 9 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS N137B) Under side:            green (RHS 138A) with grey/purple (RHS N187A).        -   Leaf base.—acute.        -   Margin.—entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:            green (RHS N137B) under side: grey/purple (RHS N187A) and            green (138A).-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 15.        -   Length.—about 70 cm.        -   Diameter.13 about 4 mm.        -   Strength.—strong.        -   Aspect.—upright.        -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—combination of brown (RHS N200A) and green (RHS            143C).        -   Internode.—Length: about 25 mm to 30 mm.-   Inflorescence description:-   Appearance: Upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with    bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning    with the lowermost flower.-   Buds:    -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 22 mm.        -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 20 mm.        -   Shape.—egg-shaped/oval with a bump.        -   Color.—yellow/green (RHS 145A).-   Flowering time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not    undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of    18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30    weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to    20 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be    expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a    leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.-   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness    of cut flowers: has not been observed-   Fragrance: No fragrance-   Flower:    -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days            after petal and sepal separation.        -   Orientation at opening.—slanted upward and outward.        -   Shape.—see FIG. 2.        -   Size.—Height: about 60 mm to 75 mm Diameter: about 75 mm to            90 mm Depth of tube: about 9 mm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity and arrangement.—six petals that are trimerous,            overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more            pronounced than sepals.        -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl of petals comprises 3 petals, 2            lateral petals and labellum.        -   2 lateral petals.—Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly            cupped Apex: round Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base:            broadly ovate Length: about 50 mm Width: about 35 mm            Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:            smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side:            white (RHS NN155D) with purple stripes and spots (RHS N78A)            Under side: white (RHS NN155D), at the base a green haze            (RHD 144D) and purple veins (RHS N79B and a little RHS            N78A). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent            callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and            base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward            about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is            terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at the apex.            Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the            midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it Margin:            entire and weakly undulate Apex: lateral lobes: oval            Midlobe: round corners Length: about 50 mm Width (not            flattened): about 35 mm Texture: Upper and under surface:            smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Midlobe: upper            surface: the vein and the edges are purple (RHS N79A) at the            center a white mark (RHS NN155C). At the base at the center            and on the edges some yellow (RHS 14A), further all            red/purple (RHS 71A). Under surface: the edges, some marks            and a stripe in the center are purple (RHS 71A). The center            is white (RHS NN155 B) and on the edges also some yellow            (RHS 15A). Lateral lobes: upper surface: purple (RHS N79B            and RHS N71A), the lower edges are yellow (RHS 13B) and the            upper edges white (RHS NN155D). At the base also some yellow            (RHS 13B) and white (RHS NN155D). Under surface: white (RHS            N155A), lower edges yellow (RHS 13B). at the base some            purple stripes and spots (RHS N78A) and a purple mark (RHS            71A) Chirri: long and curly (about 10 to 15 mm); color:            purple (RHS 79A) and white tips (RHS NN155D) Pestle            (Callosities): Length: about 6 mm Width (not flattened):            about 7 mm Color: yellow/orange (RHS 15C), white grey/purple            spots (RHS 185A).-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals.        -   Overall shape.—elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire            and weakly undulate Length: about 40 mm Width: about 26 mm            Apex: dorsal: oval; lateral: slightly pointed Texture: Upper            and under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully            opened): upper surface: white (RHS NN155D) with purple            stripes/spots (RHS N78A). The lateral sepals have more spots            at the base, which makes the color RHS N79B) Under surface:            white (RHS NN155C) and some green (RHS 144B and RHS 144C)            with purple spots/stripes (RHS N78A and RHS N79B).-   Reproductive organs:-   Arrangement: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single,    short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther    with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an    anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the    pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The    plant has not produced seed.-   Column:    -   -   Length.—about 6 mm.        -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.        -   Color.—purple (RHS N78A) with a white tip (RHS NN155D).-   Pollinia:    -   -   Quantity.—two.        -   Diameter.—about 1 mm.        -   Color.—orange (RHS 25A).-   Ovary:    -   -   Length.—about 3 mm.        -   Diameter.—about 4 mm.        -   Color.—white (RHS NN155B) and purple (RHS N78A).-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—about 25 mm to 30 mm.        -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.        -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—yellow/green (RHS 151A) and closer to the flower            grey/orange (RHS N170C).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Circus’, as illustrated and described herein.